Rising Tide

    Water rushed into the house from every crevice as howling winds and tree branches pounded against the siding. Andre waded through what used to be the living room, in his right arm he held the cat as he rushed for the stairs.
"Ma, I've got the cat!" Andre yelled into the torrent of broken glass and muddy water from the stairs.
"Alright, go upstairs and wait with your brother I'll be up soon" his mother Angelina echoed from the kitchen as she attempted to stop the flow using any means necessary. Towels, curtains, and even the table cloth were jammed under doorways and between boards on the window sills.
The stairs creaked with the rest of the house as Andre ran up to the second floor. When he got upstairs he saw small pieces of glass scattered on the ground from the gusts that had pressed against the windows. He dropped the cat and headed for his mother's room at the end of the hallway. It was dark in the hall despite it being daytime. Between the boards and the large hurricane that spiraled above, there wasn't much room for sunlight. 
In his mother's room, the sound of heavy raining and roaring wind blared from the now boarded up sliding door to the balcony. In the corner his little brother Marcus sat with his hands covering his ears. He didn't like the loud invasive noises that came with the hurricane. Andre walked over and put his hands on his brother's shoulders.
"Everything is gonna be fine, mom will be up soon. Just try to relax we're gonna have to be up here for a little while until the storm passes."
"I can't I'm scared andy!" Marcus choked as he began to sob.
"You just need to get your mind off of it, where is your DS?" asked Andre.
"It's back in our room"
"Alright, I'll go get it." Andre insisted as he spotted the cat walking into the room. "Here hold Mittens I bet he's scared too, but you can comfort each other." Andre placed the cat down on his brother's lap. Immediately the cat rolled over and looked at Marcus for belly rubs.
Marcus nodded back as Andre got up and headed for his room. Outside the wind seemed to die down a bit, and the house creaked as it settled. Andre got into the room and used the light from his phone to search around for the DS. He found it beneath a dirty T-shirt that was tossed next to the hamper. With the DS in hand, he began to head back to his mother's room as a large gust of wind shook the house violently.
He rushed into the room expecting to see his brother curled up in the corner, but he wasn't there. On the other side of the room he saw his brother crawling through the boards blocking the balcony.
"Marcus, what the hell are you doing? get away from there!" Andre yelled as he made a break for the door.
"I have to get the cat!" Marcus yelled back as he squeezed through the space.
On the balcony, the cat looked for a way to safety from the last large gust. Marcus reached over to the cat as the wind pushed against him. Andre struggled to fit through the same crack, but with a bit of force, he was able to knock a board loose and make it onto the balcony. The color felt as if it drained from his head as he looked out over the destroyed town for the first time. Murky water rushed down the streets he used to walk, and the houses he grew up with now resembled the rocks in the stream he used to play in.  He shook off the shock and grabbed his brother.
"Come on Marcus we have to get back inside now!"
"We can't leave the cat he's scared!" Marcus yelled as he broke free of his brother's grip and ran for the cat. Another gust of wind blew Marcus back as the house shook once more. Loud cracking noises erupted from the balcony as it began to partially collapse. Knocking Andre through the railing, and down to the water below.
"Andy!" Marcus screamed as he barely managed to hold onto the lopsided balcony. Bubbles shot from Andre's mouth as his knee crashed hard a piece of the balcony that had fallen with him. The water was cold and rushing. Andre could touch the ground, but just barely. He fought hard to stay afloat as the current began to drag him away from the house. His knee throbbed with his heartbeat as he rose. He thrashed as the current began to overtake him from another strong gust. He cried out for help, but his mother who was just now getting upstairs had no idea what has happened. In the distance he saw a strange silhouette standing atop a partially submerged van. Andre called out to the stranger as he was beginning to fall beneath the water. But the hooded figure merely watched as Andre thrashed for his life.